And Leon. The world’s most ordinary man with the world’s most extraordinary talent. It was such a waste, having something like that and then just pretending that you didn’t. What was that? Fear again? Who knew that being an adult could be so scary? But her mum hadn’t been scared of the world, Romany thought. Her mum had never been scared of anything.
Hope was the real mystery, Romany thought as she watched her move from table to table clearing away the debris. She still had no idea why her mum had included her in the gang of four. She seemed nice enough. She was a bit frosty, but Romany imagined that if you looked like Hope then you probably needed to find ways to protect yourself from unwanted attention. But being beautiful wasn’t enough of a reason to have landed her with the job of guiding Romany through this tricky year and beyond. There must be something else. If Romany knew anything about her mum, it was that she didn’t do things by accident. No, there would have been a purpose in her mind. Romany just needed to work out what it was.
Romany’s thoughts were interrupted then, because there was Hope, strolling across the restaurant towards them with a bottle of champagne in her hand. A waiter who Romany recognised from school followed behind with half a dozen sparkling flutes on a silver tray.
‘Sorry I’ve been so long,’ she said as she reached them. ‘Things always take more time than you think, don’t they? But I’m here now. Have you had a lovely time?’
‘We have, thanks,’ replied Romany, feeling that as the soberest amongst them the role of spokeswoman should fall to her. ‘The food was great. You should tell your boyfriend from us.’
‘You can tell him yourself,’ she said. She turned and shouted back to the kitchen. ‘Dan. Come and meet Romany and the others.’
Moments later the person who must be Dan emerged. His tall chef hat had gone now and there was a smear of sauce down the front of his whites, but his eyes were shining.
‘Hi,’ he said, pushing his damp hair away from his forehead. He scanned the group and then settled his gaze on her. Their eyes locked, but his look was so intense that it made Romany feel uncomfortable, as if she were being interrogated. It was weird, off somehow.
She held his stare, defiant, but then, when he still didn’t look away, she dropped her eyes. Had she done something to inadvertently upset him? She couldn’t think what. She had just said how much she had enjoyed his food, although she supposed he didn’t know that yet. She’d heard that chefs were highly strung but not like this, surely. She wiped round her mouth with a tentative finger in case she had food on her face, but found nothing. She could still sense his eyes on her. What was it with that bloke?
‘Romany was just passing her compliments on to the chef,’ said Hope with a wink, and Romany looked at him again. He was still focusing on her, but now his expression was softer, the intensity gone. Maybe she had imagined it. Her mum was forever telling her that teenagers made everything about them when they really weren’t.
Finally, Daniel smiled, and it changed everything about him, making him appear far more normal. He had lovely eyes, Romany thought, a deep rich brown colour, and a friendly face, when he wasn’t staring.
‘Did you really enjoy it?’ he asked. ‘That’s amazing!’ He sounded needy, as if her approval was actually important to him, which it obviously wasn’t. ‘What was your favourite part?’ he added.
Romany didn’t have to think. ‘I loved that lemony taster thing,’ she said, ‘but I liked the triple chocolate tart best.’
‘Ah yes,’ replied Daniel. ‘My own personal favourite too.’
‘And the rest of you enjoyed it too?’ he asked, finally turning his attention from her to the others.
There was a general murmuring of approval from around the group. Hope, who had been fiddling with the wire cage around the cork, opened the bottle in one smooth movement and poured a glass of the frothing champagne without spilling a drop. Romany was impressed. Whenever she’d seen people do it in films it always looked like a particularly messy business. Hope filled the glasses efficiently and Daniel passed them around.
Maggie seized the moment, raising her glass and slurring, ‘To the chef!’
They all did likewise, and Daniel lowered his eyes modestly for a moment. Then he looked up and gave them a broad grin before settling his eyes on Romany again.
‘What?!’ she wanted to say. ‘What is your problem?’
He raised the glass to his lips, took a sip and put it back down on the table.